By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

THE Department of Public Safety says 10 to 20 percent of children from 4 to 7 years old are not restrained properly in vehicles.
DPS Child Passenger Safety Week chairman Police Officer Jarrod Manglona said this puts children at an unnecessary risk of being injured or killed in crashes.
He said children 4 to 7 years old are generally too small for adult seat belts and need a boost to ensure that the seat belt fits securely across their chest and low across the upper thighs to prevent internal injuries; neck, head and spinal injuries; and even ejection and death in the event of crash incidents.
DPS said infants should be in rear-facing safety seats while children who are at least 20 pounds should be in forward facing child safety seats.
The forward-facing booster seat is for a child of at least 40 pounds, while a child at least 4’9” tall can use the adult seat belt.
DPS said the safest place for children up to the age of 13 is in the back seat of a vehicle.
According to Manglona, anyone interested in buying a child safety seat for a minimal amount can go to the DPS Office of Grants and Special Programs to get a $50 voucher.
A qualified reisdent can go to a store, ask the price of a particular child seat and bring the child’s birth certificate, the driver’s license and the vehicle registration to the Office of Grants and Special Programs.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial designated Feb. 11-17 as Child Passenger Safety Week.
Fitial urged citizens, government agencies, private and public institutions as well as schools to observe the week with appropriate programs, activities and ceremonies that will increase awareness of the correct use of child safety seats.
A courtesy safety inspection will be conducted by DPS in the parking lot of Price Costco on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.